Sir Alex Ferguson ends BBC boycott after seven years

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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has ended his long-standing boycott of the BBC.

Ferguson has not spoken to the corporation on team matters since 2004 following the broadcast of a TV documentary containing allegations about his son, Jason.

The 69-year-old manager had said he would not speak to the BBC again until an apology was made.

Earlier this year the BBC registered their disappointment with the Premier League when Ferguson refused to speak to any media outlets after a defeat at Liverpool.

They stopped short of an official complaint but the Premier League, who can fine managers for refusing interviews, orchestrated a meeting in an attempt to end Ferguson’s seven-year feud with the broadcaster.

A joint statement released by United and the BBC today read: “Sir Alex Ferguson and the BBC have decided to put behind them the difficulties which led to Sir Alex feeling unable to appear on BBC programmes.

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“This follows a meeting between Sir Alex and the BBC’s director general, Mark Thompson, and BBC North director Peter Salmon, and the issues have been resolved to the satisfaction of both parties.

“Sir Alex will now make himself available to the BBC for Match of the Day, Radio 5 Live and other outlets as agreed.

“No further comment will be made by either party on this issue.”

Since 2004, the only interviews Ferguson has given to the BBC have been for tributes to figures such as Sir Bobby Charlton and Ryan Giggs.